Peace on Earth, Good Will to Everyone

Our "chicks" have flown home to the nest to be with us for the holidays, and I've been doing a fairly respectable imitation of Betty Crocker.  Not much in the way of stitching is going on, but my mind is still whirling as I stir cookie batter.

My Christmas card to you all is my favorite design of the season--"Joy to the World," first shown in the November 2001 issue of Needle Pointers.  It was inspired by a vignette my father had created for our mantel one Christmas when I was a child.

May you all safely celebrate the holidays with friends and family!

Crossing another finish line

One last finish for 2013!  I picked up the completed baby block yesterday at my LNS.  The little ornament is a gift for a friend's new grandson.

The cube measures 2-1/2 inches on 18-count canvas.  Stitched in DMC cotton floss and Kreinik metallics, it's personalized with the baby's initials on top and the year on the base.

I'm pleased with my first venture into designing a 3-D piece--hope the new parents like it!

An angelic season

Over the course of many years, I've stitched a lot of angel canvases--28 to date--but have never had an opportunity to display them.  This year is different! 

DH and I scoured the stores for a little tree to put in a corner of our living room, and here is the result--the Angel Tree.  Topping the tree is the December angel designed by Judy Harper for me a couple of years ago. I blog-stitched Emily the angel (bottom right) some time ago.  The remaining angels were designed by Joan Thomasson.

There are angels on the back of the tree as well, which can be seen through the window, but I ran out of tree before I ran out of angels!  So the remainder spilled out onto the mantel.  Believe it or not, I still have unstitched angel canvases in my stash!

A wild and hairy guy

Santa has a beard--a lot of beard!  This section took quite a bit of time to stitch, but I'm happy with the result.

The beard was worked with DMC Medici wool, the same thread as Santa's hair and eyebrows, using two strands of white and gray in a long-short/split stitch.  I actually stitched the gray areas first so I'd know where to fill in with the white.  The only tricky places were around the Christmas tree, where upright Gobelin stitches over one or two threads were all that would fit.

His cheeks look rosier now that he has his beard in place!

Starting a sixth year

Yesterday's 5th blog birthday totally slipped by me.  I could have sworn it was Nov. 30 but when I checked my own archives, realized I was off a day.  My, how time flies when you're having fun!

So Pierre the French chef penguin is here with a birthday cake to celebrate.  My thanks to everyone for stopping by, lurking or leaving comments!

Hemming, not hawing, for Thanksgiving

At this point, you may well be thinking, "Is this crazy lady still French knotting?"  Yup--and a sea of French knots is now tickling the tummy of Mr. Penguin!

With the hem of Santa's robe done, so is my stash of Vineyard Silk Classic "Bright White" for the trim, with one sleeve still to go.  A trip to my LNS is in the near future, but until then, I'll need to move on to another area.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  And a Happy Thanksgivukkah to all my Jewish friends!

In the nick of time

Another deadline met!  The finished Baby block went to my LNS yesterday afternoon, right after having its picture taken.

The threads, all from my stash, included DMC cotton floss Blanc, #666 and #704, with letters worked in Kreinik #12 tapestry braid #003 and #015.  The background for the letters was worked in a diagonal mosaic stitch, framed in slanted Gobelin and Scotch stitches.

The little recipient was actually born shortly after I last posted, so the top block was finished with HIS initials!